Racewalking is for everyone. Go to the links below and see how racewalking can help with your fitness and competition goals.

As most of you know, Daniela and I moved Kona, on the Big Island of Hawaii. It's been a great experience helping and leading the local racewalk community for 27 years - yes, I started racewalking in March of 1988 - time flies. I'm transitioning the duties to Steve DiBernardo, and others so we continue to have a thriving and active group in the Seattle area. Steve is especially enthusiastic in developing young racewalkers, and helps out with some youth track teams. We definitely need some younger walkers to ensure the future of racewalking. Steve's contact email is: coachdibo@yahoo.com. Phone is: 206-387-7639.

I will continue to work on the website and my new email is stanski@twc.com. It's been such a pleasure working with all the great people connected to our sport, and just a few weeks ago, a starter who had never worked a racewalk before remarked he's never seen such comradery at the start line. Hey, we're all just great folks!

NOTE: We just decided we will meet to racewalk EVERY Saturday at 9 am at Green Lake, next to the community center building, where we meet for the Second Saturday races. We hope to get a decent turnout so people can pair up for similar paces, and on good weather days, some might want to do faster workouts. Steve has been dealing with some health issues lately so call before you attend

Our "Ask me about racewalking" hats are still available and great to wear during our winter season. These are for our active walkers and were paid for out of leftover Pacific Pacer funds to help promote racewalking. Contact Steve or Bob Novak about these.

Here is the starting line at the Regional Hour walk in Banks, Oregon, on Oct 21st, 2012. 45 degrees at the start so we are bundled up.

Club Northwest Racewalking

We are integrated into Club Northwest and race under their banner. They are club number 36-0116 for your USATF registrations.

Here is the CNW membership link. Club Northwest Cost is $50 annually and you get a nice navy blue performance fabric CNW shirt the first time you join. There are also event discounts, Northwest Runner subscriptions, and other benefits of membership. The distinctive orange singlet we see at races must be purchased separately but is good quality and will last a long time. See me in the front row above in the new singlet. Steve in the back has an old model and lighter, faded color.

See our schedule page for
current and ongoing events and the
results page for past events.
If you have news you want to share or need more
information, email me at stanski@twc.com. See your articles on the web.

The question
of racewalking shoes always comes up at our races.There are no current racewalk specialty shoes on the market so we use running racing flats (older terminology) and lightweight performance shoes (newer terminology). Spikeless (rubber nubs) cross-country running shoes also work well for racewalking. I would also check ebay under "lightweight performance shoes" or "racing flats" for better prices. I've found a variety of appropriate shoes there. Remember, since you are not getting off the ground in racewalking, you do not need as much cushioning as running shoes. You want a better "feel for the road" to get the rolling motion of racewalking.

I've also had good luck online at Eastbay, and Running Warehouse plus ebay. Sizing is an issue though as width and height of the toebox area varies quite a bit, even within the same brand, so may take a few tries to find the rightsize/ fit. Running stores carry limited numbers of these models but if you find one you like, at a reasonable price, I'd recommend buying a couple of pairs as models change often.
Things to look for are: low profile sole (thin), low heel, (we don't need much cushioning to walk), flexible toe area (most racing flats will have this) and full, flat sole, without much cutout or concave area. See my notes on my glue gun solution to the concave area if needed. Most local running stores will have several models under racing flats, or lightweight performance headings. You want to pick them up and feel the light weight, plus bend the toe upward to be sure that it is flexible. Some thinner soles are still fairly stiff. Heel should have some stiffness, this is called the heel counter, to provide support there. A few models make this flexible to save weight but I've found this is not good for racewalking where you walk more on the outside of the foot than with running.

Locally I've had good luck at DSW shoes where they have a bigger stock of running shoes lately and I have always been able to find a pair that meet the above requirements at a decent price. One was a New Balance, and other a Keen brand with curvy lacing but are very lightweight and flexible and feel good, and, both were about $60. They also have a good sale rack where I've found some good bargains. Worth a check now and then.
I've found that some racing flats and some cross country running shoes have too much of a cutout under the arch
to save weight but I can fix that with a little glue from a hot glue gun
or Shoe Goo to build up the low spots to get a smoother rolling motion
throughout the stride. Can run two beads along the inside and outside edge of the sole, in the middle cut-out portion, and provide the good smooth area needed.If you have
other recommendations, pass them along to put on our site.

S. Texas Walking Club video This is a video of kids learning to racewalk and stretches and drills. Very quick on some items so will want to pause the video at times but it's fun for kids for sure and entertaining.

A nice article in West Hawaii Today newspaper, July 7,2017, about racewalking and my new second Saturday clinics in Kona. West Hawaii Today article___________________________________________________________________